After 15 years as heartthrob Jason Grimshaw on Coronation Street, Ryan Thomas can now also call himself a reality TV veteran, with Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing On Ice wins under his belt.
And off-screen, the 40 year old – the eldest of the Thomas brothers’ trio, which also consists of Love Island’s Scott and Emmerdale’s Adam – seems to have had the same amount of success. Engaged to former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh and father to Scarlett, 14, Roman, four, and Lilah Rae, two, Ryan couldn’t be happier…
You turned 40 last month. How does it feel?
I’ve hit the milestone! I’m very lucky to be in a position to celebrate these milestones – I’ve turned 40, I’ve got three beautiful children, a beautiful partner, beautiful friends. That is what dreams are made of.
You met your fiancée Lucy on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls. How did that love story develop?
She had no other choice, but me – she was on a deserted island! And then the rest is history. When we first got together, we had to make the decision to live either in Manchester near my family or Essex near hers. I ended up moving down south and it was quite daunting at first. That’s why I’m a part of Santander’s campaign to help people get to know a new neighbourhood. I recently learned that 22 per cent of people move to a new area because of their partners, so I’m part of that bracket. Lucy is the reason I moved to Essex and I loved it. I had my two beautiful children there, and it’s a second home to me. Now, though, it’s Lucy’s turn to go through this because we’ve moved back to Manchester.
What was it like when you first started living together?
Us boys, we’ve got this Thomas trail. You know where we’ve been because we leave empty wrappers and dirty socks everywhere. Lucy always used to get annoyed with the Thomas trail, and I know Caroline [Daly, Adam’s wife] did, too. Over the years, I’ve learnt to clean up after myself, though.
What makes the two of you such a great team?
Communication – and date nights. They’re very important. It’s always good to spend quality time together. We’re very busy and hectic with the kids, so now and again, it’s nice to take time out just for the two of us.
Who’s the more romantic out of the two of you?
Probably me, although Lucy just shows it in a different way. We complement each other well.
What’s been your biggest romantic gesture?
Getting engaged in Italy! Trying to pull that off without Lucy realising was difficult, but I just about managed by changing the plan last minute.
You’ve just finished filming new game show 99 To Beat, which you co-host alongside your brother Adam. How was it?
It was amazing. And to be able do it with my best friend and brother was a dream come true. It’s the game show of all game shows for me - I don’t think anyone’s seen anything like this before.
What were the game shows you watched growing up?
We absolutely loved Gladiators – that was the main one.
They’ve confirmed a celeb version, would you want to have a go?
I would love to! That’s the dream. To do Gladiators after watching it on TV as a kid would be incredible.
Do you think you would do well?
I’m competitive, so I’d try to win.
You’ve got a lot of reality TV wins under your belt, so you’ve got a good chance…
I always try to put 100 per cent into everything I do, and anything else is a bonus. I never thought I was going to win Dancing On Ice, not in a million years.
Ryan Thomas is part of Santander’s First- Time Buyers campaign. Santander has created a helpful guide on how to get to know a new neighbourhood in a couple of hours. Visit Santander.co.uk/ personal/mortgages/new-customers/first-time-buyers.